As a newly single parent, the horizons may seem somewhat daunting. Indeed, even the bravest of souls may occasionally balk at the prospect of having to raise kids and facing all of parenthood’s woes alone. Usually, a single parent is faced with many other issues. Aside from thinking about what’s best for the kids, a single parent is also confronted with facing emotional residue, dealing with the pressure to immediately recover and addressing personal needs that may be crucial for the maintenance of personal sanity. For a parent who has just recently been through the conclusion of a meaningful relationship, everything may seem magnified a hundred fold.
It is perhaps because of a single parent’s numerous critical concerns that the social aspect of his/ her life may be momentarily set aside. Because of a single parent’s single minded focus to support the family, the personal need for human interaction is kept at a stand still. What single parents should remember however is that they should also take care of themselves in every sense of the word since it is only through a physically, mentally and emotionally healthy parent that the family is able to survive. One possible way to ensure the overall health of a single parent is through the resumption of social dating. It may not however be as easy as it sounds. You can click here to find out some of the common observations about single parents and how their relationship status affects their social life.
While some single parents take some time to resume social relations, other parents jump right back. What should be the foremost concern then before getting back into the dating scene is one’s own readiness to do so. Since people do not have the same coping mechanisms and do not heal at the same time, the measure of one’s readiness can only be determined by oneself. A genuine, personal assessment of oneself therefore is needed before deciding to date again. Otherwise a promising relationship may be wasted when one is not ready. It is important to leave the emotional baggage of the past and start anew when ready.
A single parent may also tend to feel some level of guilt for deciding to date again. This guilt is perhaps attached to a single parent’s consideration for his/ her kids, who have understandably become top priority. This guilt notion should be shattered. There is nothing wrong about getting back on track. A person’s personal needs should also be considered in order to function well in society. What will perhaps be helpful will be letting your date know ahead of time that you are a single parent and that he/ she understands and respects that.
Should the dating relationship progress to continual social interactions, the next consideration will be the kids’ acceptance of the situation. While some kids may be perfectly all right with the idea of a parent dating again, others may feel a little uncomfortable with allowing a stranger into the family fold. The key is to encourage and maintain open and honest communication lines with the kids and to make sure that introductions do not proceed at a very fast pace. It will take time for kids to understand what a parent is going through but they eventually will when the time is right. Don’t rush your kids.
When you think your kids are okay with the situation then it may be the proper time to go full throttle.
While going back to dating as a single parent may be difficult, it is also crucial and necessary for any normal person. It’s a way of loving and taking care of yourself.